USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity

INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

SHAPING THE FUTURE

OF HIGHER EDUCATION
IN PAKISTAN

SUMMIT PROGRAM &

SPEAKERS
JUNE 10-12, 2024

ORGANIZED BY:
USAID'S HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM STRENGTHENING ACTIVITY
HOSTED BY:
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, ISLAMABAD

SUMMIT 2024

Summit Program & Speakers 1

Summit Website hessa.utah.edu/summit Follow Live facebook.com/GlobalUofU
 Partner Universities

Schedule (June 10-12)

Day 1, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:30 Showcasing HESSA Best Practices

(15:30
09:30 Opening Ceremony half hour Session 7: Enhancing Students’
Tea) Success through Integrated Support
10:30 Tea
Systems
11:00 Session 1: Positioning Pakistan's Higher
Session 8: Innovations in Teaching and
Education for Tomorrow
Learning for Higher Impact
13:00 Lunch
Session 9: Strengthening Women
14:00 Session 2: Optimizing Faculty Leadership Capacities in Higher
Workload: Challenges and Policies Education
15:30 Tea Session 10: Strengthening the Role of
Registrars and Administration in Higher
16:00 Session 3: Fostering Entrepreneurship
Education
Culture in Higher Education Institutions
Day 3, Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Day 2, Tuesday, 11 June 2024
09:00 Session 11: The Importance of
09:00 Session 4: Navigating Tomorrow:
University-Industry Linkages for
Cultivating Higher Education Online
Pakistan’s Economic Growth
and Micro-Credentials in Traditional
Landscapes 10:30 Tea/Coffee Break
10:00 Session 5: Climate Responsive Water 11:00 Session 12: Addressing Capacity
Governance within the Context of Building Needs of Higher Education
Sustainable Development Faculty
11:30 Tea 12:30 Closing Ceremony Speeches and
Remarks, Summit Outcomes, Vote of
12:00 Session 6: Leadership and Governance
Thanks etc.
Crisis in Pakistani Universities
13:30 Lunch
13:30 Lunch

2 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
DAY 1
Opening Ceremony | 10 June 2024 (Monday) | 09:30 to 10:30

• Recitation from Holy Quran

• Welcome remarks by Engr. Moazzam Ejaz, Rector NUTECH

• Introduction and objectives of the International Summit by Dr. Michael Barber, Project Director
HESSA & Professor, University of Utah

• Panel discussion: Graduate employability (undergraduate students)

• Remarks by Government Representative and Chief Guest

SESSION 1
Day 1 | 10 June 2024 (Monday) | 11:00 to 13:00
Theme: Positioning Pakistan’s Higher Education System for Tomorrow

This session aims to delve into forward-looking approaches that will shape the future of higher
education in Pakistan. To this end, speakers will discuss the challenges and opportunities in
leveraging technology for learning, strengthening industry-academia collaboration, improving
quality standards and accreditation processes, reforming curriculum to meet market needs, and
forming international partnerships, among others. Together, these discussions will pave the way
for a robust and progressive higher education landscape in Pakistan, poised to meet the demands
of tomorrow’s world.

Session Chair

Dr. S. Akbar Zaidi

Executive Director, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Professor Dr. S. Akbar Zaidi has been the Executive Director of the
IBA since January 2020. He is a renowned political economist with
an experience of almost four decades of teaching and research
in Pakistan and abroad. His areas of interest in research include
political economy, development, the social sciences, and history. He
completed his PhD in History from the University of Cambridge in
2009, MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge in 1993,
MSc in Social Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics and
Political Science in 1982 and BSc (Hons.) in Economics from University College London in
1980.

Summit Program & Speakers 3

Speakers

Presentation topic
A Systems View of Higher Education and Governance

Dr. Tariq Banuri

Professor of Economics, University of Utah, USA

Tariq Banuri holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University and began
his career as a member of the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP). He has held
numerous positions, including Professor of Economics at the University
of Utah, former Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan,
Director of the UN Division for Sustainable Development, founder and first
Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
in Islamabad, Director of the Asia Centre of the Stockholm Environment
Institute (SEI), and Executive Director of the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), a
statutory corporation established under the GCISC Act 2013. Dr. Banuri has contributed to various
national and international forums for policy and research. In recognition of his contributions to
research and education, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (SI) in 2002.

Presentation topic
Transforming Higher Education in Pakistan: The Impact of Technology,
Especially AI

Dr. Khalid Hafeez

Vice Chancellor, Balochistan University of Information Technology,
Engineering & Management Sciences, Quetta

Khalid Hafeez is a strategic thinker and implementer with over 30 years

of experience in teaching, research, industry, knowledge transfer, and
management at top universities in the UK and the Middle East. He earned
a Gold Medal from the University of Balochistan Quetta and was the first
Pakistani to receive a Ph.D. in AI and Robotics from Cardiff University of
Wales, UK. Dr. Hafeez has held several prestigious positions, including
Program Leader for the MEng Program, Director of MBA, and Director
of the world’s first MSc in Knowledge Management at Sheffield Hallam University, UK. He was
the founding Director of the Centre for Innovation at Bradford University, UK. Later, he served
as Professor of Operations Systems & Entrepreneurship and Director of External Relations at the
University of York, UK, when it was recognized among the top 100 research universities globally.
Renowned globally for his research, he has over 3500 international citations, an h-index of 26, and
an i10-index of 44. He is a recipient of the ‘Exemplary Leader’ award from the Asian Leadership
Academy UAE and the ‘Certificate of Merit’ from the House of Lords UK in recognition of his
services to education, industry, and the community.

Presentation topic
Curriculum Innovation and Skills Development for Future Workforce
Readiness

Dr. Casey Hyun

Director, Center for Medical Innovation, University of Utah, Asia Campus,
South Korea

Casey Hyun is a multi-award-winning automotive designer and strategist

with over 20 years of experience at top automotive and IT companies. He
now focuses on future mobility and artificial intelligence. Casey’s extensive
global business experience allows him to diagnose and forecast cultural
and future trends in creative design. He currently serves as an executive
consultant for four Fortune 100 companies, including Google, LG Group,
and Continental Automotive.

4 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
Presentation topic
Advancing Social Equity in Higher Education for a Promising Future

Dr. Mercedes Ward

Associate Director of Social Impact, University of Utah, USA

Dr. Mercedes Ward is a design thinker and facilitator who collaborates with
individuals and organizations to develop impactful projects, programs,
and policies to advance sustainable development. Mercedes believes in
the importance of creating enabling environments to support human
flourishing. She accelerated her professional evolution from ecological
anthropologist to design thinker when she joined an interdisciplinary,
multicultural team to establish a research center for water security in
Pakistan. Over a five-year tenure with the USAID-funded U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced
Studies in Water, she led a Pakistan-based research team to deliver policy recommendations
to improve participatory irrigation management, facilitated workshops to support community-
based research and policy impact, and designed and managed quality assurance mechanisms
for international education and capacity strengthening programs.

SESSION 2
Day 1 | 10 June 2024 (Monday) | 14:00 to 15:30
Theme: Optimizing Faculty Workload: Challenges and Policies

This session will delve into the various challenges associated with effectively managing faculty
workload within universities, and exploring the complexities of balancing teaching, research,
administrative duties, and other responsibilities encountered by faculty members. Additionally,
it will discuss potential policies and strategies aimed at optimizing faculty workload to enhance
productivity, job satisfaction, and overall institutional effectiveness.

Session Chair

Dr. Shahid Munir

Chairperson, Punjab Higher Education Commission

Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir assumed the charge as Chairperson of Punjab

Higher Education Commission (PHEC)in June 2022. He brings with
him rich experience in the field of academia, industry, research, and
administration. Prior to this, he was leading the University of Jhang as
Vice-Chancellor. Dr. Shahid Munir has earned his PhD in Energy and
Environment Engineering from the University of the Leads, UK.

Summit Program & Speakers 5

Speakers

Presentation topic
Faculty Workload and Enabling Environment in Pakistani Public Sector
Universities: Policies and Challenges

Dr. Uzma Quraishi

Professor and Dean Faculty of Education, Professor and Dean Faculty of
Education, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore

Prof Dr. Uzma Quraishi is the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Lahore
College for Women University. She is a former Vice Chancellor of the
Women University Multan and Lahore College for Women University. She
is an eminent educationist and specializes in Gender equity and leadership
in Higher Education. Dr Quraishi has a PhD in Educational Management
& Planning from the University of Birmingham (UK) & Post-Doc in Gender
Equity and Higher Education from the University of Cambridge; MEd in Media and Education,
University of Manchester, UK with the first degree in Fine Arts from the National College of Arts
Lahore, Pakistan. Dr Quraishi has served on a number of administrative and leadership positions in
public and private sector universities, including serving as Principal of the Foundation University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Islamabad, Head of departments of Education, Computer
Arts and Fine Arts at the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Director Institute of
Education and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, LCWU, Executive Director
Women Development Center, and Chairperson Department of Education, UMT, Lahore.

Presentation topic
Balancing Research, Teaching, Service and Life Demands: The Private Sector
Perspective

Dr. Faisal Bari

Associate Professor, Economics Department, Lahore University of
Management Sciences, Lahore

Dr. Faisal Bari is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in

Education and Economics. Dr. Bari holds a Doctorate in Economics from
McGill University and a master’s degree in philosophy from the University
of Punjab. He also has two bachelor’s degrees, one from the University
of Oxford and another from Government College, Lahore. His research
encompasses disability inclusion, gender representation in textbooks,
the use of educational technology for teacher professional development (TPD), teacher politics,
the political economy of teacher recruitment and retention, and the role of the private sector
in education reform. He is a member of the Higher Education Commission and has previously
served as a Board Member for the Punjab Examination Commission. In this role, he provided
technical input for reforming the Punjab examination system towards the adoption of school-
based formative assessments.

6 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
Presentation topic
Faculty Workload Management: Insights from the University of Utah

Dr. Michael Barber

Department Chair and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Utah, USA

Michael Barber is Professor and Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering

(CvEEN) at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. Michael has three
degrees in Civil Engineering beginning with his BS from the University of
New Hampshire, MS from Purdue University, and PhD from the University
of Texas-Austin. He has over 30 years of experience in hydrology and
water resources working in academics and in private consulting. His
responsibilities include administering the CvEEN Department, teaching undergraduate and
graduate classes, developing externally funded research proposals and budgets, advising,
and supervising undergraduate and graduate students, mentoring and publishing technical
papers. Dr. Barber’s research has field investigations and numerical modeling studies of water,
nutrients, and primary productivity in rivers and lakes with focus on stream-groundwater
interaction, climate change implications, and human adaptation.

SESSION 3
Day 1 | 10 June 2024 (Monday) | 16:00 to 17:00
Theme: Fostering Entrepreneurship Culture in Higher Education Institutions

The landscape of higher education in Pakistan is evolving rapidly, with increasing emphasis on
preparing graduates for the dynamic demands of the modern workforce. In this context, fostering
an entrepreneurship culture within higher education institutions (HEIs) emerges as a pivotal
strategy. This session aims to delve into the importance of embedding entrepreneurship within
the fabric of HEIs and exploring actionable steps to foster this culture effectively.

Session Chair

Dr. Atta Ullah Shah

Vice Chancellor, Karakorum International University, Gilgit

Prof. Engr. Dr. Attaullah Shah is a distinguished researcher, educator,

and professional specializing in Civil Engineering, Construction
Management, and Sustainable Built Environments. He is currently
serving as the Vice Chancellor and Professor of Civil Engineering
at City University of Science and IT in Peshawar, Pakistan. Prior
to this role, he was the Director of Projects at Allama Iqbal Open
University. Dr. Shah also serves as an advisor to the Swedish College
of Engineering and Technology Wah, which is affiliated with UET Taxila-Pakistan, for their
Civil Engineering program. Additionally, he has been an advisor to the National Foundation
for Resource Development for their Construction Management program. He is a visiting
faculty member at the Centre of Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE), SZABIST, and
NUST, and is a resource person for PEC CPD courses and the HEC. Dr. Shah has authored
over 65 publications in international refereed journals and conferences, covering topics in
Structural Engineering, Construction Management, and Sustainable Building Design and
Construction.

Summit Program & Speakers 7

Speakers

Presentation topic
Promoting Entrepreneurial Mindset in Higher Education

Dr. Shahid Qureshi

Rector, GIFT University of Gujranwala

Prof. Dr. Shahid Qureshi is the Rector of GIFT University. He holds a Ph.D.
from TU Berlin, an MBA from LUMS, and an MSc from AIT-Thailand.
Dr. Shahid is also a fellow of Babson Business School, specializing in
entrepreneurship pedagogy, research, and entrepreneurial centers. He has
taught at TU Berlin, the Frankfurt School of Finance, Kempton School of
Business, and the SP Jain School of Business in Dubai, playing a pivotal role
in promoting entrepreneurial education in Pakistan. Previously, Dr. Shahid
served as the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) at IBA Karachi,
one of Pakistan’s leading business schools. He is a well-regarded researcher and speaker in the
field of entrepreneurship and currently serves on the boards of IGNITE (National ICT R&D Fund,
Government of Pakistan) and the Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Karachi. Dr.
Shahid has consulted nationally and internationally, aiding in the establishment of entrepreneurial
centers. He designed the award-winning Women Entrepreneurship Program course, recognized
by the USASBE (United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship) in 2017 and
2021.

Presentation topic
Preparing Faculty and Students for Entrepreneurial Success

Dr. Casey Hyun

Director, Center for Medical Innovation, University of Utah, Asia Campus,
South Korea

Casey Hyun is a multi-award-winning automotive designer and strategist

with over 20 years of experience at top automotive and IT companies. He
now focuses on future mobility and artificial intelligence. Casey’s extensive
global business experience allows him to diagnose and forecast cultural
and future trends in creative design. He currently serves as an executive
consultant for four Fortune 100 companies, including Google, LG Group,
and Continental Automotive.

8 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
DAY 2
SESSION 4 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 09:00 to 10:00

Theme: Navigating Tomorrow: Cultivating Higher Education Online and

Micro-Credentials in Traditional Landscapes
This session will address the increasing importance of integrating online platforms and micro-
credential initiatives into Pakistani higher education institutions. While recognizing the necessity
of adapting to structural, technological, and cultural changes for launching effective online
programs, it emphasizes the benefits and rationale behind such initiatives. Using the example
of the technical assistance provided by HESSA to NUST, the session aims to showcase recent
developments as inspiration for other institutions.

Session Chair

Dr. Nasir Mahmood

Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad

Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood has over 25 years of experience in

the education sector at various levels. He has taught research
methods, educational psychology, and quantitative data analysis to
undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students at numerous public
and private universities. Dr. Mahmood has led or contributed to
more than 60 research projects and grants as Principal Investigator,
Co-Principal Investigator, and team member. He has published 57
research papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals.

Speakers

Presentation topic
Advancing Online Education and Microcredentials: A Pakistan Case Study

Dr. Osman Hassan

Pro Rector (Academics), National University of Sciences & Technology,
Islamabad

Prof. Hasan is a distinguished academic leader with extensive experience

in teaching, research, industry outreach and commercialization, and
internationalization. He received his BEng (Hons) degree from the
University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan in 1997, and
his MEng and PhD degrees from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada in
2001 and 2008, respectively. After completing his postdoctoral fellowship
at Concordia University, he joined the NUST School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
(SEECS) in 2009, one of NUST’s most esteemed institutions. Throughout his career, Dr. Hasan has
held numerous key administrative and academic positions. He has served as Principal and Dean
of SEECS and previously held the roles of Head of Research and Senior Head of the Electrical
Engineering Department at SEECS. His exceptional teaching methods have earned him the
HEC’s “Best Teacher Award” in 2011 and the NUST “President’s Gold Medal for the Best Teacher” in
2015. He is a senior member of IEEE, a member of ACM, the Association for Automated Reasoning
(AAR), and the Pakistan Engineering Council.

Summit Program & Speakers 9

 Dr. Deborah Keyek-Franssen
Associate Vice President and Dean of University Connected Learning,
University of Utah, USA

Deborah is a creative educator and thought leader with over two decades
of experience in IT and higher education. As a senior administrator at the
University of Utah, Keyek-Franssen works with a talented team to provide
digital technologies for teaching and learning on-campus and off; a full range
of online education opportunities and services to support those programs
including learning experience design, market analysis, marketing, and
adult learner support; and a rich set of professional education, workforce alignment, and personal
enrichment programs. She began her career at the University of Colorado, where she served as
director of academic technology; oversaw strategy and research in the use, implementation, and
evaluation of educational technologies; and managed a team of consultants and technologists.

SESSION 5
Day 2 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 10:00 to 11:30
Theme: Climate Responsive Water Governance within the Context of
Sustainable Development

This session will delve into the intersection of climate change, water governance, and employment
opportunities in Pakistan. Addressing climate change not only mitigates economic risks but
also creates avenues for job creation and improvement, particularly within the context of water
governance for sustainable development.

Session Chair

Dr. Tariq Rafi

Chairman Sindh Higher Education Commission

Prof. Dr. S.M. Tariq Rafi graduated in 1982 and joined Jinnah Post
Graduate Medical Centre as Medical Officer. He did his F.C.P.S. &
F.R.C.S. and became Professor of ENT at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical
Centre in 2001. He has been the Convener, Examiner, Paper Setter at
College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) and has trained
more than 100 students for F.C.P.S., M.S. and D.L.O. He has more than
twenty-nine publications in national and international journals. He
has been the Past President of the Society of ENT and Ex-President of SAARC ENT Society
and the former Dean of ENT at College of Physician & Surgeons Pakistan and the former Vice
Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi. He has been awarded with the civil
award of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in recognition of his contributions to
education and health in the country.

10 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
Speakers

Presentation topic
Evolving University Organizations and Programs to Address Climate Change
Impacts on Water

Dr. Sajjad Ahmad

Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University
of Nevada, USA

Dr. Sajjad is a professor of water resources and a senior water management

expert with a broad background. He has over 20 years of experience
in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, integrated water resources
management, climate change impacts, water-energy nexus, urban water
use efficiency, water policy, teaching, and training. As an educator, Dr.
Ahmad has supervised 32 graduate students to successfully complete
their MSE or Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Ahmad has published 118 papers in peer-reviewed journals and
more than 100 book chapters or papers in conference proceedings on a variety of research topics
related to hydrology and water resources planning and management. His publications have been
cited more than 9300 times (h-index 58; i-10 index 127. source Google Scholar) He is a Fellow of
the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award. He
serves on the Editorial Board of eight international Journals, including ASCE Water Resources
Planning and Management. Dr. Ahmad holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources)
from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and an M.Sc. in Water Resources from the Asian
Institute of Technology, Thailand. He received his BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of
Engineering and Technology, Lahore Pakistan.

Presentation topic
Adapting Capacities of Faculty Members and Students to Combat Climate
Change Effects on Water

Dr. Steve Burian

Professor, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University
of Alabama, USA

Dr. Steve Burian is a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources in the

Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at the
University of Alabama. He also serves as the Director of Science at the
Alabama Water Institute. Dr. Burian helps to catalyze multi-disciplinary
water initiatives in research, education, global engagement, and community
impact. His research group develops solutions to reduce risk from floods
and other water-related hazards, improve performance of water systems from building to urban
scales, and protect clean water. Using computer modeling, hydroinformatics, systems analysis,
and field studies, his research group contributes to the engineering of sustainable and resilient
urban water infrastructure systems, including stormwater, wastewater, and water supply; works in
partnership with local stakeholders, such as the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities; and is
supported by local, federal, and international funding sources. In teaching, he advances the use of
project-based learning to build soft skills of students and to address critical local and global water
problems in courses such as Water Resources Planning and Management, Hydroinformatics, and
Sustainable Urban Water Engineering. In 2019, recognizing his effort advancing faculty capacities
and higher education systems in Pakistan, Dr. Burian was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the
President of Pakistan.

Summit Program & Speakers 11

Presentation topic
Strategic Planning and Partnerships in Higher Education to Enhance Water
System Resilience to Climate Change

Dr. Michael Barber

Department Chair and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Utah, USA

Michael Barber is Professor and Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering

(CvEEN) at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. Michael has three
degrees in Civil Engineering beginning with his BS from the University of
New Hampshire, MS from Purdue University, and PhD from the University
of Texas-Austin. He has over 30 years of experience in hydrology and
water resources working in academics and in private consulting. His
responsibilities include administering the CvEEN Department, teaching undergraduate and
graduate classes, developing externally funded research proposals and budgets, advising,
and supervising undergraduate and graduate students, mentoring and publishing technical
papers. Dr. Barber’s research has field investigations and numerical modeling studies of water,
nutrients, and primary productivity in rivers and lakes with focus on stream-groundwater
interaction, climate change implications, and human adaptation.

SESSION 6
Day 2 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 12:00 to 13:30
Theme: Leadership and Governance Crisis in Pakistani Universities

Four panel speakers will discuss their perspectives on the major challenges facing higher
education in Pakistan. They will offer three to five priorities that vice-chancellors should be acting
upon to address these issues. The outlined priorities will provide actionable strategic directions
related to self-sufficiency and autonomy for individual institutions as they navigate ongoing
funding challenges. The priorities will be built around empowering faculty members, responding
to societal needs, addressing gender and diversity disparities, navigating the legal and regulatory
framework, fostering stakeholder engagement, and other objectives outlined by each speaker.
These priorities will be issues that vice-chancellors should address with their leadership councils
and communities in their strategic planning.

Session Chair

Engr. Moazzam Ejaz

Rector, National University of Technology, Islamabad

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Moazzam Ejaz, Rector, National University of

Technology, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), joined Pakistan Army Corps of
Engineers in 1985 and retired in 2022. He is a civil engineering graduate
with 30 plus years of professional experience in engineering, project
management, administration, and academics. During his long and
meritorious career, he has made very valuable contributions towards
engineering profession. He has held prestigious appointments
of Quarter Master General and Engineer-in-Chief of Pakistan Army. He holds a Master of
Science in War Studies and Defense Management from National Defense University,
Islamabad. Engr. Ejaz has held numerous advisory, administrative, and consultative positions

12 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
 across several organizations. As member Governing Body Pakistan Engineering Council
over the years, he has played an active role in undertaking various initiatives to strengthen
engineering community. He has been awarded Lifetime Achievements Award by PEC and
Excellence Award by Institute of Engineers Pakistan.

Speakers

Presentation topic
Inter-sectoral Challenges and Advancement in Education Sector

Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali

President, SZABIST, Karachi

Shahnaz Wazir Ali, a recipient of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, has had an illustrious

40-year career as an educationist and social sector development policy
specialist. She has been elected twice to the National Assembly of Pakistan
and has served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Sectors.
She is also a renowned women’s rights activist. Since 1965, she has been
a Trustee of the Education Trust Nasra School in Karachi. Her lifelong
commitment includes significant involvement in polio eradication, family
planning, population issues, education sector reform, and social protection. Dr. Wazir Ali’s
extensive experience includes serving as a Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank and
as the Minister of State for Education for the Government of Pakistan. She has held positions
on the boards of numerous prestigious national and international organizations, trusts, advisory
councils, and educational boards, including IBA, Sindh HEC, the Higher Education Commission,
the Benazir Income Support Program in Islamabad, the Social Policy Development Centre (SPDC),
the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), the Executive Board of UNESCO, the National Curriculum
Council, and the Patients Aid Foundation at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi.

Presentation topic
University Research System, Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Zain Ul-Abdin

Project Director, Comcept Pvt Ltd., Islamabad

Dr. Zain Ul-Abdin did his PhD in Computer Science from Örebro University,
Sweden in 2011. He has a diverse experience of raising more than 650 million
equivalent in PKR in research funding from both national and international
funding agencies such as Vinnova, SSF, Knowledge Foundation, ELLIIT in
Sweden, EU-FP7 at European level and National ICT R&D Fund in Pakistan.
Dr. Abdin has worked in collaboration with industrial partners such as ST-
Microelectronics, Ericsson, Adapteva, Ambric, and Saab Electronic Defence
Systems in these projects. At Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, he has managed
research portfolio with an annual turnover of 3.5 Billion PKR. He has been instrumental in the
digital transformation of the R&D Wing of HEC as well as introducing policy reforms to revamp
the research grants framework and the research management system.

Summit Program & Speakers 13

Presentation topic
Selection Process and Leadership Crisis at Public Sector Universities Need
for Reform, and the Way Forward

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad

Member DEVCOM, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad

Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad has been the Member of Development Communication

at the Planning Commission since September 2022. He brings a wealth of
experience in journalism, education, and development communication,
and his primary role is to champion development discourse in Pakistan
through impactful communication strategies. With a distinguished career
spanning three decades, Dr. Ahmad has made significant contributions to
academia and the media. He served as Vice Chancellor at the University of Sargodha from 2016
to 2021, where he implemented academic reforms and oversaw critical projects. As the Pakistan
Chair at Oxford University from 2010 to 2015, he effectively promoted a positive image of Pakistan
within British academia. Dr. Ahmad’s diverse professional portfolio includes roles at Quaid-e-Azam
University and Eastern Mediterranean University. He began his career in journalism, contributing
to leading publications. A recipient of prestigious fellowships, his expertise extends to Pakistani
politics, foreign policy, and global affairs.

Presentation topic
Issues in Selection and Support of Leaders for Higher Education and the
Way Forward

Dr. Faisal Bari

Associate Professor, Economics Department, Lahore University of
Management Sciences, Lahore

Dr. Faisal Bari is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in

Education and Economics. Dr. Bari holds a Doctorate in Economics from
McGill University and a master’s degree in philosophy from the University
of Punjab. He also has two bachelor’s degrees, one from the University
of Oxford and another from Government College, Lahore. His research
encompasses disability inclusion, gender representation in textbooks,
the use of educational technology for teacher professional development (TPD), teacher politics,
the political economy of teacher recruitment and retention, and the role of the private sector
in education reform. He is a member of the Higher Education Commission and has previously
served as a Board Member for the Punjab Examination Commission. In this role, he provided
technical input for reforming the Punjab examination system towards the adoption of school-
based formative assessments.

14 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
Showcasing HESSA Best Practices
[4 parallel sessions] 14:30 – 17:00

SESSION 7 Showcasing HESSA Best Practices

Day 2 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 14:30 – 17:00

Theme: Enhancing Students Success through Integrated Support Systems

In this highly informative session, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the substantial
progress that has been made over the past three years in integrating student services into
Pakistan’s higher education institutions. The presentations will delve into six key areas that have
been the focus of our efforts, and we will enlighten the participants on the progress made in each
of these areas.

Moderators

Dr. Randy McCrillis

Dean of Students at University of Utah Asia Campus

Randy is the Component Lead for Student Support Services on

the USAID’s HESSA project. Randy currently serves as the Dean
of Students for the Utah Asia Campus and Executive Director in
the Office of Global Engagement at the University of Utah. Randy
spent four years on the Utah Asia Campus in South Korea where
he provided the vision, direction, and creation of the Division of
Students Affairs and now oversees most aspects of the campus. Prior
to working at the U, Randy was the Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Assessment
at the University of Colorado Boulder where he provided leadership to student affairs offices
focused on serving underrepresented students while advocating for equity and inclusion
across the institution. Randy earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University
of Nebraska Lincoln where his research focused on the experience of students of colour
participating in service-learning programs and the impact these projects had on their civic
responsibility. He holds a faculty position in Leadership Studies and has taught courses in
cross-cultural communication, organizational behaviour, leadership, and diversity facilitation
at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Ms. Asma Mohsin

Program Manager, IIE/HESSA

Asma serves as the Institute of International Education’s Program

Manager for the Student Support Services Component of the USAID’s
HESSA. She has extensive experience working in the development
sector in Pakistan and has previously supported USAID/Pakistan
programming in participant training, institutional capacity building,
legislative strengthening, as well as electoral reforms. Asma has been
a visiting faculty member in public policy at NUML in Islamabad and
holds a Master of Public Policy from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian
National University, as well as a Master of Applied Psychology degree from the University of
the Punjab. Outside of her work on HESSA, Asma also serves as a Fellow of the Pakistan US
Alumni Network, and the Australia Awards Alumni Pakistan.

Summit Program & Speakers 15

Speakers

Focal area
Student Leadership & Programming

Prof. Dr. Asif Ali Qaiser

Director Student Affairs, Professor and Chairman of the Department
of Polymer and Process Engineering, University of Engineering and
Technology, Lahore

Dr. Asif Ali Qaiser is currently working as Professor and Chairman,

Department of Polymer & Process Engineering, University of Engineering
and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan. He is also holding the office of Director
Students Affairs (DSA) UET Lahore since 2016. He earned his PhD degree
from University of Auckland, New Zealand in Chemical and Materials
Engineering in 2011. Prof. Qaiser’s research interests include Membranes for Water Treatment and
Industrial Applications, Electrochemical Materials and Characterizations, and Polymer Rheology
& Processing. He has more than 66 high quality research publications on his credit along with
seven externally funded projects. He has participated as Plenary and/or Keynote Speaker in a
number of national and international conferences and symposia. Earlier, Prof. Qaiser has worked
in various national and international organizations including National Fertilizer Corporation
(NFC), National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) and as a Consultant for Fisher
& Paykel Appliances, New Zealand, where he carried out various projects including Melt Flow
Behavior and Life Estimation of Polycarbonate resin.

Focal area
Student Microenterprise Development

Dr. Mehfooz Ullah

Director Business Incubation Center, Karakoram International University,
Gilgit

Dr. Mehfooz Ullah is the founding director of the Incubation Centre

at Karakorum International University (KIU), also teaches courses on
entrepreneurship and strategic management at the Business Department.
His academic journey includes a PhD from Malaysia, a Master’s degree from
the University of Salford, and a Bachelor’s degree from UET Lahore. He has
also been associated with various incubation centers in the US, Australia, and
China as a fellow. At KIU, Mehfooz leads the Entrepreneurship & Incubation Program, overseeing
multiple enterprise development initiatives under the banner of the incubation center, including
Micro Enterprise Development (MED).

Focal area
Mental Health

Dr. Sajida Naz

Associate Professor, Department of Behaviour Sciences and Incharge
Counselling & Well Being Centre, Fatima Jinnah Women University,
Rawalpindi

Dr Sajida Naz is an Associate Professor at the Department of Behavioral

Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi. She earned
her PhD degree from the University of Huddersfield, UK. She served
as visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. Apart from
this, she has been involved in teacher education and conducts capacity

16 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
building workshops organized under different platforms. Her research expertise includes trauma
psychology, policing and mental health, psychological interventions for positive mental states,
child and adolescent psychology, and counselling. Dr. Naz has been the recipient of prestigious
awards and scholarships which includes Gold Medal in Master’s degree, Fauji Foundation Merit
Award, HRD Scholarship award for PhD, Fee Waiver Award by Huddersfield University UK. She also
received recognition from the university for outstanding performance in teaching and research.

Focal area
Career Readiness

Dr. Saeed Ahmed

Director, Graduate Placement Bureau, Mirpur University of Science and
Technology, Azad Jammu & Kashmir

Dr. Saeed Ahmed is the Director, Graduate Placement Bureau at Mirpur

University of Science and Technology (MUST) and is a prominent scholar
with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ulsan, South
Korea, and has served as a Research Professor at Tech University, South
Korea. With a genuine dedication to enhancing student employability, Dr.
Ahmed is currently leading initiatives to bridge the gap between academia
and industry, ensuring that MUST graduates are skilled and equipped with
the knowledge necessary for success in the professional arena. He spearheads efforts to integrate
essential soft skills and career development opportunities into the curriculum, empowering
students to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

Focal area
Financial Aid

Mr. Muhammad Sheraz Tariq

Deputy Director, University Advancement Office, National University of
Sciences & Technology, Islamabad

Muhammad Sheraz Tariq is the Deputy Director University Advancement

Office at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). Sheraz
has extensive experience working with NUST, including over a decade
of working in the area of financial aid and scholarships management.
Sheraz holds a Master’s in Business Administration (Finance) degree. In
his presentation, Sheraz will be highlighting the positive impacts of HESSA
training on student services at NUST, with particular emphasis on financial aid and fund raising,
as these initiatives have effectively enhanced student services and promoted student well-being
at NUST.

SESSION 8 Showcasing HESSA Best Practices

Day 2 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 14:30 – 17:00

Theme: Innovations in Teaching and Learning for Higher Impact

This session focuses on introducing and describing the three-phase Teaching & Learning
program, hearing from faculty leader participants on how they are implementing what they have
learned in the classroom, hearing from faculty leader participants on how they are training and
implementing programming to strengthen teaching and learning at their home institutions,
and learning about a new and innovative means, “gamification” to enhance active learning and
improve soft skills among students.

Summit Program & Speakers 17

 Moderators

Dr. Lisa Pawloski

Professor & Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University
of Alabama, USA

Dr. Pawloski is the Associate Dean for International Programs and

a Professor of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Her previous roles included founding Chair of the Departments of
Nutrition and Food Studies and Global and Community Health at
George Mason University. She also served as Dean of Academic
Affairs on the George Mason University Korea campus in Songdo
Korea. Dr. Pawloski is an expert in childhood obesity and biocultural aspects of health and
nutrition among children, adolescents, and young adults. As a Fulbright Scholar in 1997, she
examined the nutritional status of adolescent girls from the Segou Region in Mali, West
Africa to explore factors impacting malnutrition in that region. Her current interests involve
exploring the biocultural, geographic, and social determinants of obesity in transitional
countries. Dr. Pawloski has most recently worked and conducted research in Thailand, Iraq,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chile, and Paris, France.

Dr. Steve Burian

Professor, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering,
University of Alabama, USA

Dr. Steve Burian is a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources

in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental
Engineering at the University of Alabama. He also serves as the
Director of Science at the Alabama Water Institute. Dr. Burian helps
to catalyze multi-disciplinary water initiatives in research, education,
global engagement, and community impact. His research group
develops solutions to reduce risk from floods and other water-related hazards, improve
performance of water systems from building to urban scales, and protect clean water. Using
computer modeling, hydroinformatics, systems analysis, and field studies, his research
group contributes to the engineering of sustainable and resilient urban water infrastructure
systems, including stormwater, wastewater, and water supply; works in partnership with local
stakeholders, such as the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities; and is supported by
local, federal, and international funding sources. In teaching, he advances the use of project-
based learning to build soft skills of students and to address critical local and global water
problems in courses such as Water Resources Planning and Management, hydroinformatics,
and Sustainable Urban Water Engineering. In 2019, recognizing his effort advancing faculty
capacities and higher education systems in Pakistan, Dr. Burian was awarded the Sitara-i-
Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.

Speakers

Dr. Naveed Iqbal

Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women
University
Dr. Inayat Ali
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Fatima Jinnah Women University
Dr. Akifa Imtiaz
Associate Professor, Department of English, Fatima Jinnah Women University

18 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
 Dr. Muhammad Faraz Bhatti
Associate Professor, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Bioscience (ASAB), National
University of Sciences and Technology
Dr. Tanveer Fatima Miano
Professor, Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University
Dr. Imran Sajid
Lecturer, Department of Social Work, University of Peshawar
Dr. Kamran Mumtaz
Chairperson & Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Institute of Business
Administration, Karachi
Dr. Rameez Khalid
Associate Professor, Department of Management, Institute of Business Administration,
Karachi

SESSION 9 Showcasing HESSA Best Practices

Day 2 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 14:30 – 17:00

Theme: Strengthening Women Leadership Capacities in Higher Education

The session involves a synthesis of the lessons learned from the women leaders’ program, as well
as participants’ reflections on how such trainings might be constructed and sustained in any
university to help reach gender equity among the institution’s leadership team.

Moderator

Dr. Susan Carvalho

Dean of Graduate School, University of Alabama, USA

Since 2016, Dr. Carvalho has led The University of Alabama Graduate
School with an agenda focused on growth and globalization of
graduate education, as well as overall improvement of the graduate
student experience at UA. Before joining UA, Dr. Carvalho served
for seven years as associate provost and senior international officer
at the University of Kentucky, interim dean of the Graduate School,
associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences, chair of the General
Education Reform Steering Committee and interim department chair in Hispanic studies
and in political science. She has served on the executive committee of the Association of
International Education Administrators (AIEA) and is a past AIEA Neal Presidential Fellow
and American Council on Education Fellow. With her scholarly foundation in the field of
Hispanic studies, she has authored a monograph, a collection of essays and over 30 scholarly
articles in Latin American and Latino/a cultural studies. Dr. Carvalho holds a B.A. from the
University of Notre Dame and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Virginia.

Summit Program & Speakers 19

Panel 1: The Why and the How: Building Blocks of a Leadership Training
Program for Women Faculty Members

Speakers

Dr. Huma Ayub is Assistant Professor in the Department of Business

Administration at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan. Possessing
a Ph.D. in Management Science with a specialization in Finance from
Bahria University, Dr. Ayub brings a robust academic background to the
Department of Business Administration, and has extensive experience
in teaching and research in the field of Finance. Her research focuses
on various aspects of Finance, with particular expertise in banking and
finance, risk management, and entrepreneurial finance. As a dedicated
educator, Dr. Ayub has taught a range of courses, including Business
Finance, Commercial Banking, Risk Management, Strategic Finance,
Entrepreneurship, and Quantitative Techniques for Business Research. Her teaching philosophy
is centered on creating an engaging and inclusive learning environment.

Dr. Tayyaba Noor is presently working as an Associate Professor at the

Chemical Engineering Department (SCME) National University of Sciences
and Technology (NUST) Islamabad. She holds a PhD degree in Chemical
Engineering from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU),
Trondheim, Norway. Dr. Noor’s research work focuses on interconnected
areas of catalysis and adsorption studies for carbon capture.

Dr. Sarwet Rasul is a Professor of English and the Dean of Faculty of Arts
and Social Sciences at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi. She is
the recipient of various awards and distinctions such as FJWU Excellence
in Service Award, Star Laureate Award by South Asia Publications, Country-
wide Best University Teacher Award by Higher Education Commission
Pakistan, Best Teacher Award at Fatima Jinnah Women University, etc.
Dr. Rasul has presented papers in various national and international
conferences; has published more than 50 research papers; and has various
national and international research projects to her credit. Her areas of
interest include leadership, sociolinguistics, bilingualism, gender and
media. She has a considerably significant experience in leadership roles at the university level and
beyond that. She is a certified British Council Facilitator for Leadership Program, and a Trainer of
Trainers by HEC.

Dr. Sehrish Shafi is an Assistant Professor at Mirpur University of Science

and Technology (MUST). She earned her doctorate from York University in
the United Kingdom. Additionally, she was the first Asian to hold the position
of President of the University of York Graduate Student Association (GSA).
She is currently working as the head of department of English at MUST.
She has recently established the MUST English Language Centre, which
will offer a range of tailored programmes to students in their first or final
year in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSS&H) to support
them in improving their English proficiency levels. She also recently won an
English Access Scholarship project from RELO-USAID for underprivileged
children aged between 13 and 20 years. Apart from these endeavours, her research interests lie in
phonology, sociolinguistics, and multilingualism.

20 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
Panel 2: Lessons Learned by HESSA’s Women Leaders

Speakers

Dr. Noreen Sher Akbar completed her PhD in Mathematics from Quaid-i-
Azam University in 2012 and joined the National University of Sciences and
Technology (NUST) the same year as an assistant professor. Recognized
as the most accomplished faculty member at NUST, Dr. Noreen is known
for her dedication, hard work, and exceptional performance in all assigned
duties. Her tenure as the head of the Department of Basic Sciences and
Humanities was marked by her successful launch of MS and PhD evening
programs in Applied Mathematics at NUST CEME. Dr. Noreen is NUST’s
top researcher, with 345 publications, an impressive impact factor over
2000, and over 14,000 citations. She has also published a book, three book
chapters, and successfully completed four projects, with several more submitted. Her H-index is
60, reflecting her influential contributions to the field. As a supervisor, she has guided numerous
MS and PhD students, and she has received over 20 national and international awards, ranking
among the top 2% of scientists globally.

Dr. Munazzah Akhtar is the Chairperson and an Associate Professor at the

Department of Architecture, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore.
She is also the current Vice-chair of the Institute of Architects Pakistan IAP
– Lahore Chapter. Additionally, Dr. Akhtar serves on the editorial board of
the prestigious International Journal of Islamic Architecture (IJIA) for the
2024-2026 term. She specializes in Architectural History, and her research
locates transcultural and transregional contacts in the artistic productions
and visual culture of Muslim communities in South Asia, particularly during
the pre-modern and early modern periods. Dr. Akhtar has received several
notable awards and fellowships, including the Barakat Trust Award (Oxford,
UK), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Fellowship, the
Ian H. Stewart Fellowship (BC, Canada), and the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC)
International Travel/Research Grant (Pakistan).

Dr. Ayesha Mushtaq specializes in Biotechnology and Biochemistry, with over 50 research
publications in these fields. She has been part of the academia and administration at SBK Women’s
University for 20 years. As an educator, she is dedicated to teaching, research, mentorship, and
upholding ethical standards. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Biochemistry department
and also works as Director of the Graduate Studies Office. She also works to encourage and the
women of Balochistan to achieve higher education by attaining M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. As part
of SBK Women’s University she is providing academic excellence and research to produce female
leaders, in order to adapt to the challenges of our changing world.

Dr. Shabana Nisar is a particle physicist with a PhD from Syracuse University,
USA. She is currently teaching at IBA, Karachi. She has more than 20 years
of teaching and research experience in higher education. In the past, she
has worked at Harvard University, USA; COMSATS and LUMS in Lahore.

Summit Program & Speakers 21

SESSION 10 Showcasing HESSA Best Practices

Day 2 | 11 June 2024 (Tuesday) | 14:30 – 17:00

Theme: Strengthening the Role of Registrars and Administration in Higher
Education

The project is providing a customized training to registrars from partner universities to enable them
to obtain a 360-degrees perspective on the nature of work performed by the Registrar’s Office in
the best run universities; focus on different components of the work; develop the capacity for a
diagnostic analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of their own (or other) functioning offices;
and acquire the tools to search for solutions to the challenges they continue to face in their work.

Session Chair

Dr. Amjad Saqib

Founder Akhuwat Foundation

Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib, a distinguished social entrepreneur

and development practitioner, is the visionary Founder and
Executive Director of Akhuwat, the world’s largest Islamic
microfinance institution. Since its inception in 2001 with a modest
$100 seed fund, Akhuwat has disbursed a staggering $1 billion in
interest-free loans, transforming the lives of over 6 million families
across Pakistan. A former civil servant and accomplished author, Dr.
Saqib holds degrees from Lahore’s prestigious King Edward Medical University and The
American University in Washington D.C.

Moderator

Dr. Tariq Banuri

Professor of Economics, University of Utah, USA

Speakers

Dr. Asad Ilyas

Registrar, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
Dr. Yorid Ahsan Zia
Registrar, University of Peshawar
Dr. Zahid Rauf
Registrar, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management
Sciences, Quetta
Engr. Ashfaq Maitla
Registrar, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad
Ms. Naseem Akhtar
Registrar, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi

22 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
DAY 3
SESSION 11 | 12 June 2024 (Wednesday) | 09:00 – 10:30

Theme: The Importance of University - Industry Linkages for Pakistan’s

Economic Growth

The session will discuss and examine an analysis of student expectations and experiences; alumni
perspectives on industry partnerships and how universities can collaborate with employers to
ensure graduates are adequately prepared for the workforce, including discussions on internships,
skill development initiatives, and strategies for bridging the academia-industry gap. Finally, the
session will explore various approaches to engaging students in decision-making processes within
higher education institutions, emphasizing transparency, responsiveness to students’ feedback,
and fostering a culture of inclusivity in governance structures.

Session Chair

Dr. Rizwan Riaz

Pro-Rector (Research, Innovation and Commercialization), National
University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad

Dr Rizwan Riaz assumed the office of Pro-Rector for Research,

Innovation & Commercialisation at NUST in April 2021, bringing with
him extensive experience in academics, research and technology
management. His affiliation with NUST dates back to 2008 as faculty
member and, recently, as Principal Research Centre for Modelling &
Simulation (RCMS), NUST. A graduate in Aeronautical Engineering
from the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, USA, with distinction in 1990, he obtained
Masters in Aerospace Engineering from NUST, Pakistan, in 2004 and PhD in Mechanical
Engineering (Computational Fluid Dynamics) from the University of Manchester, UK,
in 2008. Dr Rizwan Riaz has over a decade of experience in R&D, project management,
organisational R&D policy, and academia-industry linkage measures. An avid proponent of
applied research, Dr Rizwan has been part of national-level projects which have won him
laurels and saved the nation millions in foreign exchange. In recognition of his meritorious
services, he has also been awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military).

Panelists

Engr. Muhammad Asif Aslam

Director General, NUTECH Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (NORIC),
National University of Technology, Islamabad
Mr. Mohammad Sohaib Saleem
Director, Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), Institute of
Business Administration (IBA), Karachi
Dr. Maria Anjum
Director, Business Incubation Center (BIC), Lahore College for Women University, Lahore
Mr. Aamir Ibrahim
Chief Executive Officer, Jazz, Islamabad
Mr. Sohail Sajid
Country Manager, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Islamabad

Summit Program & Speakers 23

SESSION 12
Day 3 | 12 June 2024 (Wednesday) | 11:00 – 12:30
Theme: Addressing Capacity Building Needs of Higher Education Faculty

Session Chair

Ms. Noor Amina Malik

Managing Director, National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) /
Higher Education Commission, Islamabad

Speakers

Presentation topic
The Need for Different Faculty to Meet New Curriculum and Pedagogical
Demands

Dr. Lisa Pawloski

Professor & Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of
Alabama, USA

Dr. Pawloski is the Associate Dean for International Programs and a Professor
of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her previous roles
included founding Chair of the Departments of Nutrition and Food Studies
and Global and Community Health at George Mason University. She also
served as Dean of Academic Affairs on the George Mason University Korea
campus in Songdo Korea. Dr. Pawloski is an expert in childhood obesity
and biocultural aspects of health and nutrition among children, adolescents, and young adults.
As a Fulbright Scholar in 1997, she examined the nutritional status of adolescent girls from the
Segou Region in Mali, West Africa to explore factors impacting malnutrition in that region. Her
current interests involve exploring the biocultural, geographic, and social determinants of obesity
in transitional countries. Dr. Pawloski has most recently worked and conducted research in
Thailand, Iraq, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chile, and Paris, France.

Presentation topic
Embracing the Mindset of the 21st Century

Dr. Steve Burian

Professor, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University
of Alabama, USA

Dr. Steve Burian is a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources in the

Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at the
University of Alabama. He also serves as the Director of Science at the
Alabama Water Institute. Dr. Burian helps to catalyze multi-disciplinary
water initiatives in research, education, global engagement, and

24 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
community impact. His research group develops solutions to reduce risk from floods and other
water-related hazards, improve performance of water systems from building to urban scales,
and protect clean water. Using computer modeling, hydroinformatics, systems analysis, and field
studies, his research group contributes to the engineering of sustainable and resilient urban water
infrastructure systems, including stormwater, wastewater, and water supply; works in partnership
with local stakeholders, such as the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities; and is supported
by local, federal, and international funding sources. In teaching, he advances the use of project-
based learning to build soft skills of students and to address critical local and global water
problems in courses such as Water Resources Planning and Management, hydroinformatics, and
Sustainable Urban Water Engineering. In 2019, recognizing his effort advancing faculty capacities
and higher education systems in Pakistan, Dr. Burian was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the
President of Pakistan.

Presentation topic
Reimagining Higher Education Centers for Faculty Development

Dr. Akifa Imtiaz

Associate Professor & Chairperson, Department of English, Fatima Jinnah
Women University, Rawalpindi

Dr. Akifa Imtiaz is a curriculum designer, professional development

facilitator, and teacher-researcher. She's dedicated to both shaping young
minds and empowering educators. Her dedication has been recognized
with prestigious awards like the Fatima Jinnah Best Teacher Award and the
2022 Research Productivity Award. Dr. Imtiaz currently leads the English
Department at Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi as an
Associate Professor and Chair.

Presentation topic
Preparing Faculty to Escape Disciplinary Silos

Dr. James Agutter

Professor, School of Architecture, University of Utah, USA

Jim Agutter is an Associate Professor in the College of Architecture +

Planning, the Director of the Spark Design Initiative and the Director of
the Bachelor of University Studies in the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
He is the founder and past director of the Multi-Disciplinary Design
Program and the CEO of Applied Medical Visualizations. He has worked on
innovation and information design challenges for more than 18 years. Jim’s
research has focused on the application of 2D and 3D design concepts to large scale, real-time
data environments. He has published extensively in the area of information visualization and
design challenges in healthcare and cyber-security. In addition, he has numerous technology
solution patents, many of which have transferred to industry. Jim has received numerous awards
for his work including the 2004-2005 Creative Achievement Award by the Association of Collegiate
Schools of Architecture, 2009 University of Utah Honors Professorship, 2013 Early Career Teaching
Award, 2014 University of Utah Beacon of Excellence Award and the 2016 University of Utah
Distinguished Innovation and Impact Award.

Summit Program & Speakers 25

Closing Ceremony | 12 June 2024 (Wednesday) | 12:30 to 13:30

• Summary of summit proceedings by Dr. Aslam Chaudhry, Associate Project Director HESSA &
Professor, University of Utah

• Remarks by Government Representative and Chief Guest

• Vote of thanks by Dr. Kenneth Holland, Chief of Party HESSA

26 International Summit
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN
 SUMMIT 2024

Summit Website hessa.utah.edu/summit Follow Live facebook.com/GlobalUofU

This project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the
28 of Utah
University
International
SHAPING
Summit
THE FUTURE
led consortium. OF HIGHER
Partners include EDUCATION
the UniversityIN
of PAKISTAN
Alabama and Institute of International Education.
For information, please contact: Dr. Kenneth Holland, Chief of Party HESSA at kenneth.holland@utah.edu